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Psychology (BS)


2025-2026 DRAFT UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES CATALOG

Effective 1 June 2025 through 31 May 2026

Please see the Undergraduate Catalog Archives for PDF versions of past catalogs.


This program is offered by the College of Science and Health/Psychology Department. It is available at select international campuses, but it is not available at the St. Louis main campus. The US equivalent is the BS in Psychological Science. Please see the Locations Offering Undergraduate Programs section of this catalog for a list of campuses where thisÌýprogram is offered.

STEM program

Program Description

The bachelor of science (BS) in psychology is designed to provide the biological, cognitive, personality and social contexts for understanding the behavior of individuals throughout their lifespan. Students who successfully complete the BS in psychology will have the foundation, research skills and data analysis expertise to succeed in a MA/PhD psychology graduate program (e.g. clinical psychology, experimental psychology, etc.).

Students graduating with a bachelor of science (BS) in psychology will need to pursue a graduate degree before they are able to obtain professional licensure. Students are encouraged to check entrance requirements for any post-graduate programs prior to finishing their BS at Webster in the event they need to take additional coursework.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and empirical or evidence-based findings in psychology. Apply these psychological science principles to critically evaluate behavior, mental processes, and problems of everyday life.Ìý
  • Apply scientific reasoning to investigate psychological phenomena, in the design and evaluation of research, and the use of statistical methods to interpret quantitative findings. Identify, incorporate, and evaluate sociocultural factors in psychological research.Ìý
  • Apply ethical standards and socially responsible values across psychological science endeavors including research, practice, and academics. Through the application of psychological principles, demonstrate interpersonal and intercultural responsiveness, to improve quality of life from the local to global levels.Ìý
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills in processing and expressing information through constructive interactions with others, written and presentation skills for diverse purposes, evidence of psychological literacy, and use of appropriate technological tools to enhance communication. Demonstrate knowledge of equity, diversity, and inclusion to improve communication effectiveness.Ìý
  • Demonstrate personal and professional growth through self-regulation, effective project management, sound judgment in professional interactions, and collaborative and technological skills in the workplace, leading to a clear plan for life after graduation.Ìý
  • Detail the biological and genetic underpinnings of human behavior.Ìý
  • Develop a research hypothesis based on the current psychological science, and then collect, analyze, interpret, and present the data to address the question.Ìý

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

  • 64 required credit hours
  • Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours, with accommodations for the psychology BS
  • Electives

Global Citizenship Program for Psychology BS

For students completing the psychology BS, MATH 1430 will satisfy both the requirements of the major and the GCP 'Quantitative Literacy' requirement. BIOL 1010 and BIOL 1040 cannot be used to complete GCP requirements.

Special Requirements

  • Courses completed with a grade below a C- do not count toward fulfilling the specific course requirements of the major.
  • Within the required 64 credit hours, 30 credit hours must be at the 3000-level and above with at least 12 credit hours at the 4000-level.
  • No more than 6 credit hours obtained in independent learning experiences, reading courses, and assessment of prior learning may be applied toward the 64 credit hours required for the major. However, students may use any number of independent learning experiences, etc. toward their overall bachelor degree requirements.
  • Transfer students can apply up to 18 credit hours of approve PSYC course work from other universities toward the psychology major.
  • Student may substitute a higher-level composition, math or biology course for the non-psychology supporting core curriculum requirement. Students must confirm this substitution with the psychologyÌýdepartment.ÌýStudents may also transfer in these requirements.

Curriculum

The 64 credit hours required for the bachelor of science in psychology include the following:

Non-Psychology Supporting Core Requirements:

  • MATH 1430 College Algebra (3 hours)
  • BIOL 1010 Human Biology (4 hours)
  • BIOL 1040 Human Genetics (3 hours)

ÌýPsychology Core Requirements:

  • PSYC 1100 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 1800 Careers in Psychology (3 hour)
  • PSYC 2750 Introduction to Measurement and Statistics (3 hours)
  • PSYC 2825 Introduction to Research Methods (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3025 Psychology and Ethics (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3675 Professional Seminar (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3825 Psychological Research Design and Analysis (3 hours)
  • PSYC 4750 Advanced Statistics (3 hours)
  • PSYC 4825 Psychological Science Thesis (3 hours)
  • Psychology electives (12 hours)

At least ONE course from EACH of the following five content areas:

Biological Perspectives

  • PSYC 3850 Sensation and Perception (3 hours)
  • PSYC 4300 Health Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 4550 Drug and Chemical Dependency (3 hours)
  • PSYC 4650 Biopsychology (3 hours)

Clinical and Counseling Perspectives

  • PSYC 3125 Psychological Disorders (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3775 Personality Theory (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3900 Introduction to Counseling (3 hours)
  • PSYC 4225 Introduction to the Helping Professions (3 hours)

Lifespan Development Perspectives

  • PSYC 2200 Child Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 2250 Adolescent Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 2300 Lifespan Development (3 hours)
  • PSYC 2950 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging (3 hours)

Learning and Cognitive Perspectives

  • PSYC 3325 Applied Learning Theory (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3350 Cognitive Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3525 Memory (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3725 Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making (3 hours)

ÌýSocial and Cross-Cultural Perspectives

  • PSYC 3475 International Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3575 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3600 Social Psychology (3 hours)
  • PSYC 3625 Motivation and Emotion (3 hours)